Flow controller



Sept.. 5, 1944. l. o. MINER FLow ciolq'rRoI'JLER Filed July 10, 1940 y 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR ATTORNEY Sept- 5, 1944. l. o. MINER 2,357,341

FLOW CONTROLLER INVENTOR l Patented Sept. 5,1944

FLOW CONTROLLER Irving 0. .Minen Rumford, R. I., assigner to Builders Iron Foundry, Providence, R. I., a corporation of Rhode Island v Application July 1o, 1940, serial No. 344,640

s claims. (c1. 251-18) This invention relates to improvements in flow controllers. It has to do with a direct acting controller wherein the flow area in the recovery portion of a Venturi shaped passage is changed in accordance with variations in the effective head causing flow, to the end that the `rate of flow is maintained substantially constant.

One instance where it is desired to have the rate of flow substantially uniform even though the effective had causing the ow varies, o ccurs in the discharge from a filter bed of a water purification plant. When the bed is comparatively clean the liquid can pass readily through the filtering material (such as sand) and unless controlled will flow through the discharge line at airelatively high rate. As the filtered matter collects in the sand the passage of the liquid through the bed is materially hindered and in consequence the discharge ilow falls off. This is so even if the surface of the liquid in the filter bed is maintained ata constant level above the discharge outlet because the increasing resistf ance to flow oered by the filtering material as it collects the foreign matter reduces the eective head causing ow at the outlet. vTo maintain a substantially uniformrate 'of flow in the discharge line a controller is provided therein which is set under the maximum effective head available to provide a restricted flow area which permits the desired rate of flow to occur' when such maximum effective head .prevails and which controller will automatically in response to a decreasing eiiective head provide a larger flow area so that substantially the desired rate of flow will be maintained.

It is among the objects of this invention to provide in a controller of the type referred-to an improved area controlling element and its associated flow passage which will enhance' the recovery of static pressure and lessen the friction losses in the controller. Another object is to provide a novel counterbalance for such element and its allied moving parts. f

The best mode in which- I have contemplated applying the principles of my invention is shown in the accompanying drawings but these are to be taken as merely illustrative because itfis intended th'at the patent shall cover by suitable expression in the appended claims Whatever features of patentable novelty exist in the apparatus disclosed..

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a vertical section, taken as on line l-I of Figure 2, of a controller embodying the. features of my invention; f

Figure 2 is a plan view in section, taken as on line 2-2 of Figure 4:

Figure 3 is a perspective of the blade and certain associated parts;

Figure 4 is a side elevation ofthe controller,

partly in section as on line 4-4 of Figure 2; and Figure 5 is an enlarged view of certain details. 'Referring to the drawings, and particularly to Figure 1, the controller comprises an inlet and body section I2 and what may be termed a discharge or recovering section I4, although as will later appear it is a feature of the invention to provide a portion of the recovery cone within the body section itself. The inlet I6 of the body section is connected to a source of supply (not shown) and the outlet I8 of the so-called recovery section is connected to a dis- 'charge line, (also not shown) in which it is desired that the rate of iiow shall bemaintained substantially constant. The rate of flow through the controller and consequently in the discharge line is regulated by varying the cross sectional ow area of the passageway through the socalled recovery cone, this being accomplished by means of a movable area controlling element 20 hereinafter called a blade, which is automatically positioned in the path of ow.

The blade 20 is a curved plate secured to arm I sectors 22, whose hubs are mounted on frictionreducing bearings 26 which in turn are mounted on trunnions 28 provided at the sides of a tubulated member 30 which is clamped to the body I2`by a series of bolts 32. This tubulated member 30 together with an internalsleeve member 34 constitutes the throat or flow area of smallest diameter in the venturi. At its discharge end the tubular member 30 has a curved edge 30a shaped to permit the curved blade 20 to swing upward or downward in close proximity to but not touching the said curved edge 30a.

Extending from closeby the blade to the discharge end of the body section is another tubuf shown. Being straight, the length of the edge across which the liquid flows decreases as the blade moves toward the closed position. This reduces the tendency for the flowing liquid to suck the blade to its fully' closed position, renders the controller more stable near closed position, and permits a finer setting of the blade.

-From a pin 88 on an arm sector 22, a crank 4l :loins a shaft 42 which extends through a suitable fluid-tight bearing 44 in a cover plate `4l on the body section I2. The axis of this shaft is in alignment with the axis of the trunnions 28 about which the sector arms and blade swing.' A grooved pulley 48 is mounted on shaft Q2 outside the body casing and around this is ajcable ylll which forms a connection between a balance beam l2 near the top oi' the apparatus with a pistonrod 54 extending into a' casing or cylinder M near the bottom of the'apparatus. This cylinder has a base memberv 56a and a cover member Nb secured together by bolts.

Between the 'two members of the cylinder is -clamped a diaphragm 58 made of rubber or other suitable'pliable material. This diaphragm extends downward along the inner wall of the cylinder and then folds 4upward to where it is secured to the upper edge 4of an upstanding skirt 82o of a piston 8 2. When thepiston 62 is in its uppermost position of travel. with its top resting against the cover member 58h, as shown in dotted outline in Figure 4, the diaphragm lies downward along the face of the skirt to substantially. its bottom edge and then folds across the space between the skirt andthe inner vertical wall of the cylinder base. -As the piston moves downward. the diaphragm leaves the face of the'skirt This relation gives ample room for the necessary movements of the diaphragm and yet prevents any undesired buckling or displacement thereof.

'I'he plate portion of the piston 82 is inclined from its outer edge upward toward an upstanding hub 82e at its center. Below this hub, (Figure 5) on the inner face of the plate is a partially spherical depression 82d having separated outstanding bea'ring lugs 82e providing bearing surfaces for a nut 88 which is screwed onto the lowery end of the piston rod 54. The latter is tubular, extendsl upward through a stuillng box 88v `and is-secured to a connection block 'Il to which is also attached the cable ll. This block is bored -to provide a passageway from the hollow of the tubular piston rod I4 to a relief cock l2 screwed into the block. When liquid is introduced to chamber c below the piston 82. all the air or gas in' this chamber will, by virtue of the inclination of the plate portion, the depression 82d, and ports 84a in the piston rod, pass into the hollow of the piston rod and escape to atmosphere by way of the cock 12, thus insuring that only liquid will be contained in the lower chamber 88e'. `The chamber 88d above the piston may likewise be ireed of all air or gas through another relief cock top wall of the cover -memlet to the lower chamber "c, As is wellknown, when flow occurs through a Venturi shaped passage the pressure of the liquid at the larger now area is always higher than the pressure at the throat or smallest flow area. The pressures conductedf'om these two areas to the chambers 58e and "d accordingly subject the piston and diaphragm to different pressures on their opposite lo sides, the higher pressure being imposed in the ton downward, while the lower pressure is imposed in the lower chamber 88e and tends to move the piston upward. Obviously, since the pressure in the upper chamber is always the greater, the piston, so far as the pressures alone can control, would always remain in` its lowermost position. When in this position, the rela- Y tion of the cable I8 and pulley 48 is such that the blade 28 is in its uppermost position substantiallyclosing the flow passage through the socalled recovery cone.

The tendency of the difference between the upstream and throat pressures to close the blade l is balanced by the setting of weights on a balance beam so as to maintain a blade opening which will produce the desired rate of flow through the controller. I'he upper end of the cable 58 is ,at-

the cable on the balance beam is direct and without twisting or torsional effect onthe beam. The.

latter in turn is also provided with knife edges 82a which rest on seats afforded by a bracket 82l mounted on a support 48a cast with the cover member 4l. A large weight 84 is slidable on the beam'on one side of its fulcrum and a smaller weight 84 is similarly slidable along the beam on the opposite side of its fulcrum.

At the end of the shaft-.42 is secured an arm 8 8 having a portion 88a thereof extending away from the shaft on the side opposite that on which the blade 28 extends. On this portion 88a is mounted a novel counter-weight 88 having a hub Illa (Figure 2) which can be secured to the arm so this hub is mounted a weightl llc, which turns 'about the eccentric portion, being secur'able in any desired position by another set screw 88d.

'I'hus by moving the counterweight 8l as a whole along the arm portion 84o and by rotating the weight llc eccentrically about the hub lla a true counterbalancing of the blade 28 and arms 22 and 4l can be eifected.

To effect this counterbalancing the counter weight Il is moved along the arm 88a until the .0 weight tending-to turn the shaft 42 clockwise times the effective moment arm oi' such weight with respect to the horizontal axis of rotation (which passes throughthe shaft 42 and the trimnions' 28) is equal to the weight tending to turn the shaft 42 counterclockwise times the' euective moment arm of such weight with respect to the ing to effect clockwise motion of shaft 42 is active at-a center of. gravity and all weight tending to effect coimterclockwise motion is active at another center ofA gravity. then the counterweight 88 can be adjusted along the arm 88a to make the moment arms of these centers of gravity. in inverse proportion to the assumed weights acting 78 at these centers of gravity.

upper chamber Bld and tending to move the pisby a set screw IIb, On an eccentric portion oi' same horizontal axis. Assuming all weight tend- The eccentric adjustment of counterweight 90 'about the hub 90a, is to enable the assumed centers of gravity to .be brought into an imaginary line intersecting the horizontal axis of rotation. In other words, by proper adjustment of the counterweight eccentrically, this horizontal axis of rotation and an imaginary line passingdire'ctly between thevassumed centers of gravity on opposite sides of said axis, will be in a plane. By

this combined adjustmentA of the counterweight 90 along thearm 88a and eccentrically about the hub 90a, the bladeand its mounting Willbe counterbalanced at every position the blade may` assume in its path of movement. l e When the maximum eiective head yis avai jable and the blade is positioned in thegow past-54 sage to permit the desired quantity' of liquid to flow in the discharge line, the upwardly acting forces, namely the large weight 84 and the low pressure in the lower chamber 56o are counterbalanced by the downwardly acting forces, namely, the smaller weight 86 and *the high pressure in the upper chamber 56d. Thus the moving elements remain fixed so long as the eiective head causing ow remains unchanged. But when the effective head is reduced for one cause or another it will first tend to decrease the rate of flow and lessen the difference in pressures in chambers 56d and 56o. The resulting action of the controller will be to raise the piston 62 thereby 1ower.

ed in the casing for rotation about a horizontal axis and movable along said slot across the said passage to -vary the flow area thereof, and means associated with said blade and its mounting extending out-side the said casing, comprising an arm extending radially from said horizontal axis,

` across said rslot to vary the ow area of said-pas' a counterweight adjustable along `said arm to make the moment arms of the weight tending to cause counterclockwise rotation about said axis and the weight tending to cause clockwise rota-v tion about said axis inversely proportional to the said weights, said counterweight being also ad- A l sage, and-means for counterbalancing said blade ing the blade 20 which inI turn allows an increased ow through the controller which\ restores the initial pressure conditions. Accordingly the movable parts are all again inbalance and the blade will remain in its adjusted position so long as the assumed head is effective. If

for any reason this head should increase the reverse reactions will occur with consequent movement of the blade toward a more closed position. Usually, however, the expected changes are in the direction of further reduced effective heads til it reaches its iinal wide open position.

In its wide open position the blade of course has no eiect on the flow. This is'as it should be because the eiective head is greatly lessened. Under such conditions the recovery cone of the controller should be most effective, as indeed it is, because with the blade out of the way the liquid passes easily from the cylindrical member to the tubulated member 36.y The ,edge 36a of this inserted cone section 36 is vcurved to accommodate the curvature of the blade.

I claim:

1. In a ilow controller for maintaining a desired rate of now under a variable effective head causing ow', a Venturi-shaped passage through the controller having a curved slot across it, a curved blade Within-said controller rotatably mounted about an axis and movable along said slot to vary e with consequent further opening of the blade unthe flow area ofsaid passage; and counterbalancing means associated with said blade and its mounting having an arm extending radially from said axis and an element adjustable along and eccentrically about said arm to bring an imaginary line passing directly between the center of gravity of the blade and its mounting and the center of gravity of the counterbalancing means y in a plane containing the said axis of rotation ot' the blade. v 2. In a ilowl controlled for maintaining a desiredrate of i'low under a variable ciective head causing flow, a body shaped passage therethrough with a curved slot in the wall of said passage, a curved blade mountcasing having Venturif and its mounting extending outside the controller having an arm extending radially from said horizontal axis with a counterweight thereon adjustv able radially with respect to said axis and eccentrically with respect to said arm: the said radial adjustment being providedy to make the moment arm of the counterweight and its supporting arm and the moment arm of the-blade andits mounting inversely proportional toy the respective weights of the counterweight and its supporting arm and of the blade and its mounting, and the said eccentric adjustment being provided to bring an imaginary line extending between the center of .gravity of the counterweight and its supporting arm and the center of gravity of the blade and,

its mounting into a p lane passing through the said horizontal axis. I

4,'In a flow controllerfor maintaining a desired rate of flow under a variable effective head causing ow, a body casing having an inlet passage whose ilow area decreases in the direction of* flow; a removable tubular member secured internally within the said casing having a passage whose ilow area is substantially uniform and substantially equal to the ilow area of the discharge l end of said inlet passage; a second removable tubular member secured internally within the said casing having a passage whose ow area increases in the direction of ow from the flow area-of -the other tubular member; said tubular members being separated by a curved slot; and a curved blade Y rotatably mounted within said casing and movable along" said slot to vary the flow area of the passage through said tubular members.

5. In a flow controller for maintaining a de'- sired rate of flow under a variable eiective head causing flow, a body section providing an inlet flow passage of decreasing flow area in the direction of ow; a recovery section secured to said body section providing an outlet ow passage of increasing ow area in the direction of iiow; removable tubular members secured within the body section providing a ow passage betweensaid inlet and said outlet flow passages; one of said tubular x'nembers having a passage extending from the inlet passage with a ilow area substantially uniform and substantially equal to that of the discharge en'd of said inlet passage; another of said tubular members having a passage of increasing flow area extending from close by the `discharge end of said substantially uniform.

passage to the entrance oi' the passage in said recovery section; the said tubular members be- 4tially uniform iiow area: a recovery section providing an outlet ow passage oi' increasing iow *area in the direction of now: a removable tubular member securedwithin the body section provide ing a ow passage ot increasing now area extending trom close by the-discharge end of said substantially uniform passage to the entrance of the passage in said recovery section, there being a curved slot between the discharge end of said passage of substantially uniform ilow area and jthe entrance end of said removablemember; and

a curved blade vrotatably mounted within said body section and movable along said slot to vary the ow area of the 4passage through the con- IRVING O. MINER.

' troller. 

